Portable automatic pencil sharpener



Feb. 24, '1931.

T. NlsHlMURA PORTABLEUTOMTIC PENCIL SHARPENER /NveN TWK Affili/fl,F/

Ay MMM@ Filed Deo. 9, 1929- Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PORTABLE AUTOMATIC PENCIL SHAIR'PENER Application led December 9,1929, Serial No. 412,856, and in Japan December 14, 1928. v

The present invention relates to a portable automatic pencil Sharpener,wherein a screw cutter is rotatably mounted adjacent a hollow conicalpart connected with a hollow 5 cylindrical bushing; a cylindrical pencilholder having the splits u to near its end is inserted in the bushing trough a toothed wheel at its rear end; keys projecting in the interiorof said wheel engage with said 19 splits; a toothed wheel is gearedbetween said wheel and the wheel at the rear end of the cutter, toothedwheel being provided with a hand crank; the pencil holder and the cutterare connected together in such a manner that each rotates around its ownaxis simultaneously in the same direction, the holder being alsoslidable vertically; and aclamp is screwed to the end of the holder sothat the pencil is clamped by it and pressed gradually into the bushingtogether with the holder as it is sharpened. The object of thisinvention is to obtain such a portable and endurable vpencil Sharpenerthat it sharpens the pencil automatically and neatly only by holding itwith one hand and rotating the crank with the other hand and accordinglycan be used easily even by little children.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is the longitudinal side View of the pencil Sharpener accordingto this invention;

Figure 2, the front View having no pencil;

Figure 3,'the enlarged longitudinal side view of the pencil holder;

Figure 4, is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and Figure 5, theside view partly in section of the modification of the presentinvention.

In the drawings, 1 is a bushing consisting of a hollow cylindrical bodyand a hollow conical body. A screw cutter 2 is rotatably mountedadjacent the longitudinally-split outside of the conical part of thesheath by means of metal pieces 3 and 4 and has a toothed wheel 5 uponits upper end for rotating it. In the bushing there is inserted througha toothed wheel 8 at its rear end a cylindrical pencil holder 6 whichcan slide in contact with the interior wall of the bushing 1 and whichhave the splits 7 cut vertically from near its top to the bottom.' Thesesplits 7 assist the holder 6 in clamping the pencil. and also engagewith keys 9 projecting in the interior of the wheel 8, so that theholder 6 may rotate according to the revolution of the wheel 8, when itmay also be able to slide vertically lalong the keys 9 in the bushing.The end of the holder 6 has an inclined surface 6 (Fig. 3) and has ascrew threaded part in connection with this inclination. To this part isfixed a clamp 10, a grip 11 is attached rotatably which has a clasp 12to prevent it from getting out. Also, a toothed wheel 14 is provided atone side of the bushing 1, and it 1s engaged with the toothed wheels 5.Therefore, the cutter and holder rotate simultaneously in the samedirection and -consequently the contactparts of the cutter and pencilrub each other in the opposite direction. 16 is a iece for preventingthe wheel 8 from movlng vertically along with the holder and has it xedto the side of the bushing 1. The cutter has a cover 18 of suitablematerial so as to facilitate the grasping of the Sharpener on the palm.Said cover may have an enlarged end having a lid 19-which is opened whenit is desired to take out the chips accumulated in the enlarged part'.

In this invention two cutters ma be fixed oppositely to the conical partof the ushing 1; In this case, a toothed wheel 5 is provided at one endof each cutter so that it engages with two wheels 14 both being gearedwith a toothed wheel.

The following is the manner of using this article First draw out theholder 6 slightly from the bushing 1, loosen the clamp 10 and insert apencil deeply enough thereinto, after which the clamp is tightened.Then, put the cover 18 on the palm of the left hand and support the grip11 with the thumb and the forenger, grasping the bushing and cutter, andturn the crank with the right hand, pressing the holder toward thebushing 1 with the left hand. As regards the Sharpener shown in Fi ure5,. turn its. end toward the thumb of the le hand and grasp the bushingand cutter, and, sup- 'lso port the grip 11 with the little finger andturn the handle with the right hand, pressing with the thumb of the lefthand the edge of the metal piece 4 at the end of the cutter. Then, thepencil and cutter will rotate simultaneously in the same directionaccording to the rotation of the crank, whereby the contact parts of thepencil and cutter rub each other in the' opposite direction and thepencil can be pressed gradually into the bushing during sharpeningthereof. Thus, the .point of the plncil can be sharpened neatly inconical s ape.

There is the Sharpener to which the screw cutter is applied, butaccording to the resent invention the whole Sharpener includin thecutter can be grasped on the palm an the cutter can be rotated in thatposition. If you simply hold it with the left hand and turn the crankwith the right hand, pressing the grip and sheath with the left hand,the pencil will be sharpened neatly and rapidly, even by littlechildren. I

Claims:

v 1. In a pencil Sharpener, the combination of a rotary cutter having atoothed' wheel connected therewith, a bushing lixed adjacent the cutter,a pencil holder slidable in the bushing and having longitudinal slitstherein, a wheel on the holder having keys carried thereby, for slidablyengaging the slots to permit sliding of the holder in the bushing duringthe sharpening operation, a wheel in mesh with the rst mentioned wheel,and a crank for rotating the latter wheel to impart rotary movement tothe wheels and to the holder.

2. In apencil Sharpener, the combination of a rotary cutter, a bushingadjacent the cutter, a pencil holder having longitudinal slits therein,a toothed wheel having a central opening receiving the holder, keysextending into the opening and engaged in said slits to slidablyinterlock the Wheel and holder to Eermit the holder to move verticallyin the ushing during rotation ofv the cutter, and means forsimultaneously rotating the wheel and cutter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed myv naine to this specication atTokyo, Japan, this 18thV day of November, 1929.

- TOKUZO NISHIMURA.

